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MEMOHIAL IN rON.ICNCTION WITH PEI^HV'S \'1(T0RY 
CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 



Committee on Ixdustriaj^ J^rts and Expositions, 

^-^^HorsE OF Representatives, 

"' ' Frkkvi, Februar]! 18,1910. 

The committee was called to order at 10.40 a. m., Hon. William A. 
Rodeiiberg (chairman) presiding;. 

Tlie Chairman. This meetins; has been called for the purpose of 
hearing General Keifer and several other gentlemen from Ohio in 
reference to a bill (H. R. 16363) introduced by General Keifer pro- 
viding for the erection of a memorial in conjunction with Perry's 
Victory Centennial Exposition on Put in Bay Island, in Lake Erie. 

I will state that several members of the committee expressed a 
desire to attend this meeting, but have been unable to do so, and have 
asked that the hearing be printed, so that they may be able to read 
the statements of the gentlemen appearing here tliis morning. 

T think it would be a good idea if General Keifer would read the 
bill in connection with his remarks. 

J 
f- STATEMENT OF GEN. J. WARREN KEIFER, A REPRESENTATIVE 
i FROM THE STATE OF OHIO. 



r' 



[. y 



General Keifer. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, T will only take a 
short time, and in connection with my remarks I will read tlie bill, as 
has been suggested by the chairman. 

It should be said that the bill contains much more of a preamble 
than is usual, and the reason for that is that it recites somewhat the 
history of the occasion it is jiroj^osed to commemorate and the pur- 
pose of the proposed appropriation. The bill is as follows [reads]: 

A BILL To promote the erection of a memorial in conjunction with a Perrv's victory centennial and 
exposition on Put in Bay Island during the vear nineteen hinidrcd and thirteen in commemoration of 
the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of Lake Erie. 

\Vhereas the State of Ohio by joint resolution of its general assembly, passed Feb- 
ruary twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and eight, authorized its governor to 
appoint, and in pursuance thereof he did appoint, five commissioners to prepare 
and carry out plans for a Perry's victory centennial to be held during the year 
nineteen hundred and thirteen on Put in Bay Island, Lake Erie, State oi Ohio, in 
commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of Lake Erie, 
fought and won off that island in Lake Erie September tenth, eighteen hundred 
and thirteen, the primary objects of the exposition to be the erection of a perma- 
nent memorial to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and the observance of the 
centenary of his naval victory and of the military "campaigns of William Henry 
Harrison the same year, and of the peace of eighteen hundred and fourteen; also 
to take the form of an educational, military, naval, and historical exposition; and 

Whereas by like resolution of said general assembly adopted in nineteen hundred 
and nine the governor of Ohio was authorized to and did appoint four additional 
members of said commissign for the like purpose; and 

30275— IC 1 



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2 MEMORIAL — perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

Whoroati' the iiuvcrnors of the Statt'< dl" Pi'iinsylvania. Illinoi.«. Michijjaii, and Wis- 
consin l)y tin- unaninioU8 authority of ihoir rt'sjH'ctive li'u;ii*latures have each since 
ai>|n)int('(i live coinniissioners to likewise cooperate to the same ends and with 
said (thio coniniissioners in such ''Perry's victory centennial" so to be held; and 
Whereas other States have been and still others will be invited and are expected to 

also appoint commissioners for tlie same purpose; and 
Whereas said named States have taken and they and others are expected to take 

further actidu to aid in securing sjiid centennial and exposition; and 
Whereas said coiniuissioners have organized with the name "Perry's Victory Cen- 
tennial Commission," President William 11. Taft and (iovernor Judson Harmon, 
of Ohio, beiiii; honorary vice-presidents thereof; and said commission has made, 
and it is proceeding to make, plans and suitable' arrangements to hold said centen- 
nial and exposition during the year nineteen hundred and thirteen; and 
Whereas it is a part of the said j)lans to erect on said island a permanent "Perry me- 
morial" combining the objects of a monument and light-house, wireless telegraph, 
meteorological, and life-saving stations, and a<|uariuni, to ba of p3rj)etual useful- 
ness for such and other purjKises; and 
Whereas the said proposed centennial is to be national in character and to be per- 
manently useful to the United States, and the expositmn to be held is to combine 
utility with historical and educational significance, including educational, his- 
torical, scientitic. fi.shenes. life-saving, and other exhiliits. and a naval pageant: 
Therefore 

Be it enacted hij the Senate and Iloitse of He/jresentatiren of I he Vnitid States of America 
in Congress assembled. That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury of the I'nited States not otherwise ajjpropriated. the sum of two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars toward the erection of such memorial and in aid of the Perry's 
Victory Centennial and Exijosition, to be held during the year nineteen hundred and 
thirteen, on Put in Pay Island, Lake Erie. Ohio, the same to be disbursed by the 
Perry's Victory Centennial Commission, of Ohio, and such other State commissions as 
have been and may be appointed to and which may ctioperate therewith in holding 
such centennial, and in the erection of a permanent national memorial monument on 
said island to Commodore Oliver Ilaxard Perry, which monument shall condjine. as 
far as |)racticable, a suitable structure for a light-house, wireless telegrajA. meteoro- 
logical, and life-saving stations, to be utilized by the L'nited States, and otherwise in 
aid of and in promotinjr the success of said centennial and exposition, including suit- 
able gov3rnment exhibits. 

Sec. 2. That the making of the appropriation provided for in section one of this act 
shall in no way oj)erate bv implication or otherwi.>je to retjuire the United States to inciu' 
any debt or itbligation in tha erection of such memorial or in connection with said 
centennial and exposition. 

Skc. 3. That the money appropriated by this act shall be paid out on the order of 
the Secretary of th? Treasury of the United States from time to time and to th.^ tr?a.surer 
of th? organization engaged in Ih.^ erection of such monument and in promoting and in 
holding the said centennial and exposit.on. and on ."^aid Secretary beiuL' .^atislied the 
money appropriated will be disbursed for the obiects. uses, and purposes expressed in 
Bection one of this act . 

GeiuM'iil Keifeh. Now, to be l)ii('r. 1 prosmiu' \ on me all iicqiiaiiitecl 
with the <:('oi:iaj>liy of Put in Bay Island. It is located in Lake 
Eiie at a tlislance ol" about '22 miles j'loin Sandusky, lyin^^ in the track 
of transportation between Sandusky and Toledo, and Sandusky, 
Cleveland, aiui Detroit. It is called Put in Bay Island for the 
reason that after Commodore Perry's (I(M*t was built at Kiie, Pa., as I 
recollect, it assenibh'd at these islands. There is a series of islands 
there, Put in Bay Island bein^^ the lar.m'st id" tlicni. 'riier(> are Bass. 
Sdtith I^ass, Kellev's Island, (libialtar. Ballast, and Catawba islands. 
When th«' Meet went into the little harbor beliind (liiiraltar. it is said 
that it ''put in" at that place, and they call I he m.-iin island l^ut in 
Buy Island. Thai is how tlu' name luio^intited. TIumc is anothei 
liltic inland not far away, a place where they went with their littl< 
licet just before sailing out to meet the Kno;lisli. ihere t hey fj^atherei 
up some {granite rocks, w hich they call "nij;e;er IumuIs" in my country 
for the pur; <»se of ballastin;.:: the shi]) before sailinir. and that island i; 
called Ballast hland. 

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7^ MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION, 3 

^ Now, gentlemen, I wish to Ciill your attention to the fact that this 
^)is not a local matter, as tlx^ ))reanible of the bill nii<i;ht iniHcate. 
^Already the States of Pennsylvania. Michigan, Illinois, and Wis- 
consin have each appointed distinguished citizens of tliose States 
as members of the commission, as well as the State of Ohio, and they 
are acting in conjunction. I am advised that the New York state 
legislature will in a few days pass, by unanimous vote, a resolution 
to ap})oint five connnissioners also, and I am informed that word 
has just been received of pro})osetl action on the part of the State of 
Rhode Islantl to appoint hke commissioners. I also understand that 
the State of Kentucky, and some other States, are exj)ecte(l t(^ do 
the same. The reason that Rhode Island has signihed her intention 
of appointing commissioners is that Commodore Perry was a Rhode 
Island man. I mention that in ortler to show that this is not a local 
movement. The importance, of course, of commemorating the 
action of Commodore Perry and his great victory is sullicient to 
cause this to be a national movement. That victory was one that 
led to the final peace between this countrv and England in the war 
of 1812. The battle of Lake Erie was fought on the 13th of Sen- 
tember, 1813. General Barclay, who commanded the English, 
looked on from a distance, then retreated up the Thames River, was 
defeated, and the war came rapidly to an end; so that this event 
would commemorate a very great part in that important and last 
war with England. 

As to the matter of an appropriation of $250,000, I want to. say 
that it is not for the purpose of going into an enterprise where there is 
to be mone}^ made and money repaid, for this $250,000, in principal 
part, is to be appropriated for the purpose of erecting a monument 
with various appurtenances which will be fully explained by others 
who are more familiar with it. I would, however, say that on Put in 
Ba}' Island it is necessary to have a life-saving station, and this 
monument can be utilized for that purpose and so would be of per- 
manent use to the Government. The exposition, I would say, is not 
to be a general exposition like that of Chicago, or that of New Orleans 
of long ago, or that of St. Louis, nor the recent ones at Seattle and 
Jamestown; but there will be important exhibits and various things 
of that kind, at no very great cost; and this $"250,000 a])propriation 
is practically one to build a light-house, a wireless telegraph station, 
and a place for other public uses. 

If you will excuse me now, I will, for the present, at least, be very 
glad to introduce the president of the board of commissioners, Mr. 
Reinhart, of Sandusky, Ohio. 

STATEMENT OF MR. WILLIAM H. REINHART, OF SANDUSKY, 

OHIO. 

Mr. Reinhart. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the seventy-seventh 
assembly of the State of Ohio passed a bill authorizing the governor of 
the State to appoint a commission of five to make fitting arrangements 
for the observation of the one hundredth anniversary of the battle 
of Lake Erie, in the erection of a memorial and arrange for a cele- 
bration and invited the eight States bordering on the Great Lakes 
to participate in this memorial and celebration. The seventy-eighth 
assemblv authorized Governor Plarmon to increase the commission 



4 MEMORIAL — perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

to nine, and made an ajipropriation for the actual expenses of the 
commission to personally ^isit the various States and extend the 
invitation in ])erson, the members of the commission, however, to 
act without compensation. The secretary, Mr. Huntington, and 
myself, have visited the States of Pennsylvania, Illinois, ^lichigan, 
and Wisconsin. Jiills have passed both branches of the legislatures 
of those States authorizing their governors to appoint a commission 
of five to cooperate with those from the State of Ohio and other 
States for the purpose of erecting a suitable memorial, and to take 
part in this celebration. 

At a joint meeting of the commissioners from these five States 
some time ago, the secretary and myself were selected to come here 
and set forth our requirements, and what we really desire in the way 
of aid from the National Government; and to also invite the nation 
at large to participate in this celebration, but not ask for any appro- 
priation. Later, we decided to add Rhode Island to our list, on 
account of its being the birthplace of Commodore Perry, and also the 
State of Kentucky, on account of the numerous soldiers that they 
furnishetl throughout that war who were with William Henry Harrison 
in the northwestern campaign. Since our last meeting we have been 
to New Yoik, and they have passed a bill, unanimously, authorizing 
Governor Hughes to appoint a commission of five, all of the commis- 
sioners to cooperate with the commissioners from Ohio and report 
to the governor prior to the next meeting of the assembly. We are 
going to visit the States of Indiana and Minnesota, but have not yet 
done so because they have biennial sessions of their legislatures, 
and when we started out we selected those States whose legislatures 
were still in session, so that we would not have to wait for two years 
for action. 

Our secretary, Mr. Huntington, who has had a great deal of cor- 
resj)on(lence upon this matter and has all the notes, is no doubt 
prepared to inform yt)u of w hat is intendetl. As General Keifer has 
said, we do not contemplate an industrial exhibition, but it will be 
one purely historical and educational. 

The CiiAimiAN. Can you tell us something about your general 
l)latis how nuieli money you exnect to spend there ^ 

Mr. Kkinhakt. I ajn going to have Mr. Huntington tell you about 
that, and I will leave that to him. But before I retire I w^ant to 
thank this comnu'tlee and the gentlemen here who have kindly 
ctlicred I heir a.ssistance, and I take pk'asure now in introducing Mr. 
Huntington, who will give you all the information you may ask for. 

STATEMENT OF MB. WESTER P. HUNTINGTON, OF COLUMBUS, 

OHIO. 

Ml. ill .\ I i.N(ii().\. The point should be eni|)hasize(l, to begin with, 
that to apply the word "exposition" to this celebration is in a way a 
misnouH'r. It is not an ex|)ositioii in the .sen.s(> that it is industrial, 
or that there is eontemnlated the expendil tn-e of a great deal of 
money. I liclieve tluit iliere iuiN-e already In-en too many industrial 
expo.siiions in the <ouiiHy, iin<l we are certainly not here for the 
piM|»osc of advocating another tuie. We call your attention also to 
the fact that, with respect to all of the industrial expositions that 
have b<'en lu-ld, from that at Piiila«lc|j)hia to the Alaska- "i'ukon 



« I 

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MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 5 

Exposition at Seattle, and the millions ox]:)en(le(l for them by the 
States and the General Government, there is absolutely nothing 
substantial remaining. Our proposition, however, is that every 
dollar that shall be expended upon this project shall be spent for a 
permanent and material benefit to humanity. 

Aside from the memorial which is the central idea of the entire 
project, we propose to gather together the colleges and the univer- 
sities and the historical societies, and the political organizations, 
including municipal governments, the State and National govern- 
ments, and the fraternal societies and all those that contribute to the 
culture and intelligence and the progress of the nation, and assemble 
them at this island in a convention during the progress of, sa}", ten or 
twelve weeks, dividing the time between the States i)articipating and 
the National Government; and we propose out of these proceedings to 
make a permanent memorial in the nature of a printed volume 
containing the deliberations of these different bodies, a volume that 
will be fit to go into any library in the world, and forever commemorat- 
ing the sentiment that materialized there. That would be the literary 
heritage of the so-called exposition. The material heritage would be 
this memorial which, as I said, is designed not only with reference to 
art and beauty, but with reference to its permanent benefit to hu- 
manity. 

Now, wdiy should the National Government take any part in it ? 
The truth is, in my judgment, that the National Government should 
have initiated the movement instead of having it left to the State of 
Ohio to initiate. The Lord knows that Ohio has been remiss in this 
herself long enough. . For one hundred years we have permitted this 
nation, and our State has permitted the remains of the killed, whose 
bodies were recovered after this battle, to repose there in unmarked 
graves upon Put in Bay Island, while we have expended millions in 
monuments, both civic and military, during that period all over the 
country, and these graves have remained neglected. I can say that 
in army and nav}^ circles, whenever this subject is mentioned, it- is 
with reproach and with some sense of shame, that men who had 
dedicated their lives to the service of the United States almost a 
century ago, the heroes who perished in the battle of Lake Erie, have 
been without monument or memorial. 

So much for the sentimental side of it. But it should not be for- 
gotten that when Commodore Perry sailed out of Put in Ba}'^ Harbor 
to meet the British he sailed under the direct orders of the Navy De- 
partment of the United States. He had built his fleet at Erie, Pa., 
under the orders of the National Government, and in a period of time 
and under circumstances that made it one of the greatest achieve- 
ments in all histor}". He was therefore acting as the agent of the 
Government, and every man who perished on our side in that conflict 
gave up his life at the hand of the Government he was serving. Yet 
in all this time, one hundred yefii's, there has been no recognition of 
this fact. The treaty of Ghent followed this battle only by about a 
year and a half, and in the meantime, after the victory, Commodore 
Perry sailed to the head of Sandusky Harbor, and taking away from 
Fremont — where the city of Fremont now stands — General Harrison 
and his troops and transporting them to Michigan, they there drove 
the British out, as General Keifer has said, fought the battle of the 
Thames on the 5th of October, and substantially ended the war of 



6 -MEMt)RlAL PERRY S VKTURV CE]S'TEKX1AL AND EXPOSITION. 

1S12. II" you will reniember, General Jackson's victory at New 
OrK'iuis was foii^'ht nft(M' the war was over. 

Cieneral Keikeu. After the treaty. 

Mr. IIiNTixcTox. Yes. It is true that General Jackson did not 
know that the war was over — he was somewhat like some of the 
statesmen of modern times, still fifjliting: althoiiiih the war is over — 
but that does not detract in the least from the patriotic value of 
liis threat victory. But the truth is that the supremacy of the Amer- 
ican arms was establishetl at the battle of Lake Erie by Commodore 
01iv(»r Hazard Perry, and that if En<;Iand had been successful in 
that conliict the bones of General Harrison's troops would be in the 
soil of Ohio yet, and Michijjan would belong to Canada to-day; 
and if you were to tlraw a line from Cleveland across the country, 
you would ascertain that a very large part of the most valuable 
American domain that we have to-day, m the settlement that was 
made at the treaty of Ghent, would have gone to England. But, on 
the contrary, the l^attle preserved all of these Great Lake ports to 
the American Union, and that beneiit applies to the whole country, 
because the traflic of the Great Lakes to-day, the tonnage of the 
Great Lakes, is greater than that which goes out and comes in New 
York Harbor: it is greater than the tonnage wliich goes through the 
Suez Canal. The commercial fleet of the Great Lakes is the greatest 
in the world to-day, and it contributes greatly to the wealth, the 
resources, and the benefits of the people of the whole countr}^. There- 
fore most emphatically, as (Tcneral Keifer lias said, this is not a 
local celebration. No celebration could be local that undertakes 
to commemorate the progress of the whole nation, which for one 
hundred years has developed into this immense tonnage and immense 
conmierce of the Lakes. 

Furthermore, the nation is directly involved in this. It is pro- 
posed, inasmuch as Perry's old flagshi}), the Niagara, has lain for one 
Hundred years at the bottom of Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania, by the 
rej)resentatives of that State that they w ill raise this relic and restore 
it somewhat after the manner of the restoration of Hudson's boat 
and take it in a triumi)hal course to the various ports of the Lakes 
during llie |)rogress of the celel)ration. which, by the way, would 
bring in innnediately the participation of millions of American cit- 
izens w ho could not be reachetl in any other way. That idea has given 
rise to a project to substantially rehabilitate both fleets, and have 
the new British licet |)ut out of Detroit, as it did in \^^2, and the 
American Heel put out of Erie, and to have them light a sham battle 
on the scene of the real battle; and then, in celebration of the one 
hundrecl y«'ars of peace that has prevailed between Great Britain 
and the I'nited States since then, to join those two fleets together' 
and take them to tlu' dill'erent ports on tiie CJreat Lakes, escorted by 
war ships of the I'nited States CJovernment, admitted to the Lake> 
by the consent of Canada and the British Government. This would 
have a g<»<»d result up<»n the .Vnu-rican navy, for the money you raise 
to snstai?! that naval armament is lan^ely collect(Ml from taxes of 
thi- people who never see a war siiij). 

There have been coni])laints throughout the country that the naval 
armament exhausts oiu' resoun-es without giving an adecpnite return. 
Tliev do not come from the jx'ople on the Atlantic coast nor the people 
on tlie Pacific coast, w ho see the navv. who have an ocular demonstra- 



MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 7 

tion and a substantial knowledge ol" what it means to them; hut 
that discontent comes from the o^reat West, the Micklle West, and the 
Northwest. Here is an opportunity for the Government, which I 
know is most welcome to the Navy Department antl the officers in the 
service, to give a practical demonstration to the people of all that sec- 
tion as to what the navy is. Let them see it and take the pride in 
it that those who are familiar with it take. Let them see the different 
type's of war vessels. So there is, therefore, soijie practical value in 
thf^ spectacular side of what is proposed to be done. 

But after all we come down at last to the central idea of this 
memorial. It is a combination of a monument, a wireless-telegraj)li 
station, a light-house, a meteorological bureau, and a fisheries exhibit. 
And I will say in passing that the Government already maintains on 
this island a very extensive fish hatchery, one of tiie largest in the 
United States. 

General Keifer. And the State also. 

Mr. Huntington. And the State of Ohio also. But the national 
fish hatchery there is an extensive one, and it would be very natural 
indeed, in view of the vast fishery interests of the Lakes, that the 
Government should recognize the importance of this in connection 
therewith. 

Let us take, however, the necessity of some such protection as this 
affords to the commerce of the Great Lakes. Last season alone there 
were thirty vessels wrecked on the Great Lakes. The property loss 
last season was $2,000,000. Nine of these vessels foundered"; four 
of them were sunk in collisions; five of them stranded and went to 
pieces; twelve were destroyed by fire. If you will note the small 
number, only four out of the thirty, lost in collisions, it becomes ap- 
parent that all the rest stood at least the possibility of a chance of 
'being saved if they had been e(| nipped with a wireless system and 
there had been a central station from which relief could have been 
secured. Eight of these thirt}' vessels were lost on Lake Erie. The 
total number of lives lost — and I am talking about the lives lost in 
\\Tecks now, and not in accidents — last season was 94, and of these 
52 were lost upon Lake Erie, for Lake Erie is the most treacherous of 
the Lakes, and that is where the greatest percentage of the loss, bt)th 
as to life and property, occurs every year. So that this memorial 
upon Put in Bay Island will l)e in the most practical spot that could 
be found in Lake Erie with reference to the saving of human life and 
the saving of property. 

Now% one of these boats lost last j^ear was on fire four hours, but on 
account of a heav}' fog that existed at that time the fire could not 
be seen. They were undoubtedly passed by vessels that woukl have 
seen them under ordinary circumstances; and out of tiiat boat con- 
taining 30 people 9 men were picked up in a boat, having escaped 
from the vessel, and all frozen to death, the 9 corpses being frozen 
as still" as an icicle. And as to that vessel that was on fire for four 
hours, you can cross this lake in four hours, and if that vessel had 
^ been ec|uipped with wireless telegraphy it could have been saved a 
half dozen times. And that is true of almost every loss on the Lakes 
during the whole of the last season, antl every other season. Under 
this beneficent dispensation of Providence that has given us wireless 
telegraphy losses would be vastly reduced there if proper provision 
should be made. According to the authoritv of Mr. William M. 



8 MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

McQiuulo. who is siinorintondent of the Cleveland wireless station, 
there are L'.oOO vessels on the Great Lakes, an enormous fleet of pas- 
senj]:er ami frei«:;ht vessels. Out of these at present only 50 are 
equipped with wireless apparatus, and in view of the disasters of 
last season Mr. McQuade is of the opinion that there will be 100 
vessels of the fleet having wireless apparatus next year. That w;ould 
be an increase of 100 per cent. If that continues, and it will continue, 
by the time this moyument can be built probably all of these 2,500 
vessels will have this protection. 

It is estimated that a passenger boat can be operated with wireless 
service for ten years for S6,500, and there is no doubt but that the 
great financial interests back of the commerce on the Great Lakes will 
avail themselves of that kind of protection whenever the central 
station, commanding the whole lake region, can be built. That 
wireless station, at a height of 275 feet, may receive and discharge 
messages for Duluth, and even the Rocky Mountains. That is a 
good ways overlantl, and we do not expect to save any boats in the 
vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, but I mention that fact to indicate 
to you that it will command the whole chain of lakes. This island 
of rut-in-Bay. unlike any island in any of the Lakes, is also con- 
nected with the mainland by the telegraph and the telephone, so 
that wireless messages sent from the top of that tower, or received 
from any vessel that may be in distress upon any of the Lakes, can 
receive the benefit of immediate communication with shore, and 
information may be sent through the telegrai)h and the telephone 
to the nearest life-saving station not reached by wireless on any of 
the Lakes. The life-saving station is already operated at Marblehead 
some 12 miles away. 

The bureau here in Washington says that a life-saving station at 
Put in Bay Island would be not only appropriate, but that it is en- 
tirely desirai)le. It is unnecessary to say anything about a light- 
liouse. i)e('ause a light-house of that height on any of the Great Lakes 
would be a beacon to all of the vessels within many miles. 

Now, as to this structure, while it j^resents one single idea artistic- 
ally, this base u\) to (he lOO-foot line is octagonal and of a form to give 
the opportunity to each one of the eight States to decorate it with 
such artistic windows or designs as each State may desire in commem- 
oiating some individual or some event. 

Mr. .Nki.sox. \Vh(i is to maintain this station after it is erected? 

Mr. lIiNTi.N(;roN. 1 was coming lo that, and will cover tiiat i)oint 
in a nionuMit. 

The first Moor is for the rec(>pt ion of historical relics. This is 100 feet 
each way. Here [indicating ujion j)icture of proposcMl memorial] is 
what is called convent ion hah, for the uses of cchicational and other 
bodies. This convention hall will seat about a thousand people, and 
it is (h'sircd that there shall meet there, fi'om any ]>laee in the Ignited 
States, free, those who are inteicsted in the educational matters of 
American life. This tower [indicating] rises to the height of 265 feet, 
und there is a spectators' gallery around it near the top. There are 
10 doors which may be utili/.ed ns jisscMubly rooms for the dillerent 
societies of ciich State, and each room dedicated to each State. There 
will be an elevator that will cany passengers to the spectators' gallery. 

Mr. SllAKi'. What will he the total cost? 



MEMORIAL— PERRY 'S VICTORY CENTENNTAI. AND EXPOSITION. 9 

Mr. Huntington. The total cost of tliis as it is, in coiuTotc, is 
about $400,000. If limestone should be used, the cost would be about 
$500,000. We are trying advocatino; the use of concrete on account 
of the favorable conditions there for its use. 

Mr. Sharp. Have you figured on the use of granite? 

Mr. Huntington. No; we think that it will cost loo much money, 
and there is nothing more enduring than concrete if it is properly used. 
All of the conditions favorable for the manufacture of concrete are 
right there. 

Mr. Anderson. Have you received any encouragement from the 
other States ? 

Mr. Huntington. Unquestionably the responses from the other 
States will be generous ; there is no doubt about that. 

Now% a fee wdll be charged for the use of these elevators by specta- 
tors going to the gallery near the top. And I want to say that there 
is a half million people a year going to this island and to the adjacent 
islands, and w4th such an attraction as this I w^ould hesitate to indi- 
cate in figures the number of people who would go there. The re- 
ceipts from the elevator service ought to more than provide for the 
running expenses aside, of course, from such quarters as the Govern- 
ment might W'ant to use. And if the Government %vants to put a 
weather bureau station there, of course they will maintain it under 
the ordinary provisions for that service, and the same would be true 
as to the Live-Saving Service and the fisheries. I feel satisfied that 
those connected w ith the bureaus in Washington wdio would be inter- 
ested in maintaining these governmental functions there would like 
to see this go through. 

Mr. Collier. Has there not been a national riflery established 
there? I remember that several years ago the sharpshooters from 
the national riflery 

Mr. Huntington. I think, Mr. Collier, that that is near Port 
Clinton on the mainland, and about 12 miles away. 

Mr. Reinhart. Yes; later the station at Port Clinton was estab- 
lished. 

General Keifer. And called Camp Perry. 

The Chairman. It is your idea that the fees to be charged for 
passengers will be sufficient to maintain this memorial? 

Mr. Huntington. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Nelson. AVould you expect the Government to keeji up the 
running expenses ? 

Mr. Huntington. Not after its erection; not a dollar. 

The Chairman. But suppose the fees were not sufiicient ? 

Mr. Huntington. I want to say that we are not going to •come 
back here. It is impossible that those figures will not be sufiicient. 
If the Government will give this appropriation, no more and no 
less 

Mr. Anderson. I think it should be stated that this is not a barren 
island, but that it contains one of the very largest hotels. 

General Keifer. Yes; the Hotel Victor}'. 

Mr. Huntington. Yes; and that island is distinctly habitable. 

Mr. Reinhart. I will say that I have lived up there a portion of the 
year for twenty-five years^ and I can tell you something about that. 
Put in Bay has a population of about 1,300 people. This Hotel 
Victory covers 6 acres of ground, and has over 800 sleeping rooms 



1(1 MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

in it. lint the island contains u dozen other hotels. The minimum 
nninher of visitors in the past lifteen oi- twenty years has been 250,000, 
and from that iijiward every year. Consequently, these people are 
looking for soinethinj^ to entertain tliemselves while they are there. 
Boats eonie from all directions, C'levcland, Toledo, Sandusky, and 
Detroit, and the peoj)le congregate there from these excursions, 
some of them comint; every day. We believe that the remuneration 
c()inin<; from the elevator will i)r<)vide sufficient funds to keep that 
property in condition. The peoj)le in Put in Bay sa}^ that they will' 
put a custodian in charge there, and that will not cost the National 
Government a cent. 

The Chairman'. I wish you would tell us this: You are asking 
assistance to the extent of S25(),000 from the National Government. 
I would Uke to ask how much the Perry's Victory Centennial Com- 
mission intends to spend on this exposition themselves, and how are 
you going to raise the money? 

Ml-. lIuxTiNGTOX. We intend to ex])end between $800,000 and 
§1,000,000. 

The CiiAiRMAX. In addition to the $250,000 tliat you expect to 
receive from the National Government ? 

Mr. ITrxTixGTox. All told. There is now pending in the Ohio 
legislature a bill apj)ropriating $150,000, which is all that we have 
asked from our own State. 

The Chairman. Are any other municipalities there gomg to 
ai)i)ropriate anything? 

aIf. Huntington. No, sir. These are all state appropriations. 
There are nine other States. 

The Chairman. Do you expect to get this all from the States? 

Mr. Huntington. All from the States; and the National Govern- 
ment contributing $250,000 for national purposes. 

The Chairman. And the interests of the immediate locality are not 
contributing anything '. 

Mr. Huntington. The ground. The people of this island are poor. 
The ishmd will furnish the ground, and it will be the property of the 
State of Ohio. 

The Chairman. To whom does the ground belong now? 

Mr. IliNTiNGToN. It belongs to private individuals. It will be 
[Mirchascd by the Board of Trade of Put in Bay Island, and the 
title will be transferred to either the State of Ohio or the National 
(Jovernment. So far as I am concerned, I would like to see the 
(lovenunent own I lie property. 

Mr. SiiAKi*. In view of the argunu'iits that were made on the floor 
the other day in connection with a similar aj)pro])riation in the case 
of \'alley Forge, the (pn'stion seemed to be (piite important in the dis- 
cu.ssions as to the fee, the ownership, and while it was celebrating a 
Tiali<»nal victory of great import ance, and the Government at the 
mcsciit time was hard up, the only objection rai.sed was that it 
belonged to a certain private a.ssociation. So I think it would greatly 
facilifalc llie pa.ssage of this bill to meet that point by showing that 
the absolute fee of that portion of the island upon which there were 
any impr»tveinents thai thcv would make would rest in the United 
.Stales (loveriuricul . 

Mr. lhNriN<;r<)\. Would iIkmc be any objection if it rested in any 
pidilic ownership, such as the Sta*" of Ohio, foi- instance? 



MEMORIAL PEKKV'S VKTOHY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 11 

j\lr. Sharp. Woll, 1 don't know. 

Mr. HuNTiNciTON. All you say is to g,et awa} IVom private owner- 



ship ? 



Mr. Sharp. Yes. 

Mr. Huntington. Then it is immaterial whether it sliould l)e the 
State of Ohio or the National Government. 

Mr. Sharp. Only the use would be almost exclusively governmental 
and under their control. 

Mr. Keinhart. Just a word here. Mr. Huntinj^ton lias said that 
the probable cost of this would be $400,000. I think it will cost a 
little more than that. Four hundred thousand dollars is the mini- 
mum cost that we have figured on; but I think the cost woukl pi'ob- 
ably be about $500,000 if built of concrete. 

Now^, I will add that the commissioners of the various States have 
talked this matter over, and of course it is up to the Government to 
say who shall have the final ownership of this land upon which this 
memorial shall be erected. We thought at one time that the o\yner- 
ship should be in the eight States participatmg and the National 
Government jointly. But whether the State of Ohio or the National 
Government, wdiichever is decided upon, it is immaterial, of course, 
to the State of Ohio. 

General Keifer. Mr. Reinhart, do you know of any objection to 
the title l)eing put, for tlie purposes of its use, after the monument is 
built, in the General Government ? 

Mr. Reinhart. I never have heard of any objection. 

General Keifer. Could there be any real objection? This bill 
could be amended so as to require that. 

Mr. Huntington. I think I can help in that problem a little. In 
the first place, there is not much danger of any conflict over the 
property itself, because it is worthless, for this monument is going to 
be built practically upon a swamp. 

General Keifer. But when the monument is built it is not going 
to be worthless. 

Mr. Huntington. Then that will be transferred to the joint com- 
missioners of these various States, and the commissioners can transfer 
it to the National Government. 

General Keifer. There would be no trouble about the transfer 
being provided for ? 

Mr. Reinhart. This is a part of Put in Bay Island. 

Mr. Bates. How large is it ? 

Mr. Reinhart. One thousand eight hundred acres. 

[Mr. Reinhart explains the location upon a map.] 

Here [indicating] are some cement mills, the lai-gest in the United 
States, and within 12 miles of this location. That is why we think 
it could be built more cheaply out of cement, there being the sand 
and the gravel on the shores, and we can get that cheaply. Of course 
we haven't got the specifications yet. 

Mr. Sharp. Who is the designer of this monument ? 

Mr. Reinhart. Mr. Eiseman, of Cleveland, who was formerly a 
civil engineer. 

Mr. Sharp. Are you committed in any way ? 

Mr. Reinhart. Ivlo. We have simply gotten this together as some- 
thing to talk over, but we w^ould not commit ourselves until the funds 
are provided. 



12 MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

Mr. Bates. Has there been a joint meeting of the commissioners 
of these several States? 

Mr. Keinuart. Yes, sir. 

Oonornl Keifer. And Pennsylvania has participated. 

Mr. Kei.miakt. We have had a joint commission of five States 
who have appointed commissioners, and the other States not meeting; 
Indiana and Minnesota do not meet until next year. We of course 
would not decide just what should be done until we get those com- 
missioueis, as well as those from New York. We had one meeting of 
the five States, on December 3, at Toledo. 

Mr. HrxTiNGTox. At that time the joint meeting approved the 
report which you have in your hand, Mr. Bates. 

Mr. J^EiMiAHT. We had a joint meeting at Toledo of the five 
States, being the commissioners from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, 
Pennsylvania, and Ohio. 

The Chaik.max. You do not know at this time to what extent 
these different States will participate? 

Mr. ]{eixhart. No, sir. 

Mr. HrxTixGTOx. I would like to say that the action was unani- 
mous in every instance, and that in New York State we found Gov- 
ernor Hughes not only amenable to the proposition but most enthusi- 
astic about it, and who without our knowledge sent a letter to the 
finance committee of the senate advising that, in his judgment, this 
would ultimately result in an approj)riation, and expressing the hope 
that they would see that the proposal went through because he 
believed that New York ought to take part in it. Every State 
understands that it means money; there is no disguising that fact, 
but it does not mean much mone}", and every one of these States have 
a])propriated more money for St. Louis and Chicago than they have 
been asked to put into this. Every one of those buildings in those 
two cities cost from S75,000 to SI 50,000, whereas we should have 
only .?50,000 frojn each State. W^e had abandoned the means to be 
derived from the aid of the National Government. 

Mr. Keinuart. The consensus of the opinion of the commissioners 
who met in joint .session was that they would wait until the National 
Government made an appropriation, and that they would make 
theirs accordingly. If we receive S2o0,000 from the" National Gov- 
ernment, then possibly the average appropriation of these States 
would he ahout .?.">0,Oo6. We are asking S150.000 from Ohio because 
there is a great deal of work to be done by Ohio, and we will need 
more money from Oliict than any other State. Besides, as I stated in 
my former remarks, it is |)rovide(I in each bill that the States shall 
cooj)erate with Ohio and the other States and rej)ort back to the 
governor prior to the meeting of the next assembly, and I presume 
they will have a reconuneiidat ion for an appropriation which they 
see fit. 

Mr. Ill N ri.\(;r(>N. [..et me say right here that this will be free; no 
ndmi.ssion ehnrged: and there is no way to make money excepting in 
tlu' advertising. 

(leneral Ki:ii r.i:. Wdn't yoii charge some admi.ssion to the sj)ecial 
oxhibitH ( 

Mr. Ill \ ri.\<;r().\. Ves. 

Mr. Poi.VDKXTKK. This hill seems to be an absolute grant of 
$2'>0,0()() without any provi.so or condition that anv other amount of 



MEMORIAL perry's VJGTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION, 13 

money shall be raised by the States; that is, the $250,000 is to 1)0 
furnished by the Government without any reslrietions whatever. 
And suppose the States should not contribute a sudicient amount to 
complete this structure, then what situation will we be in i 

General Keifek. If you will allow me to siio;u;ost, there is some 
protection against any trouble of that kind in the last section of the 

bill. 

The Chairman. I merely want to say that in all expositions that 
we have ever had heretofore the Government has always })een the 
last to be api)ealed to and has always known just exactly what the 
States would do in the different localities. But here you do not seem 
to know yet what the States are going to do. 

Mr. Anderson. And Mr. Reinhart stated that he would not hear 
from two of the States until next year. That will make it 1912, will 
it not ? 

Mr. Huntington. No; they will meet in 1911. 

Mr. Anderson. And this exposition will be held when ? 

Mr. Huntington. July 4, 1913, and close on or about September 
10 of the same year. 

Mr. Anderson. That will give you about a year yet. 

General Keifer. That will give them two years from July of next 

year, 1911. 

Mr. Huntington. I would hke to make a suggestion in answer to 
the chairman. In regard to the other expositions that have come 
here with certain financial backing, what the chairman said is true, 
but they came from centers of wealth, and in part, as a rule, with 
some business, selfish reasons; and they expected to get a certain 
revenue fi'om their exposition because it was industrial in character. 
Wliereas this proposition comes from poor people and not from any 
municipal corporation and not from any city directly interested. It 
would be easy enough to organize a stock company and sell stock for 
an exposition in any State in the United States, but in this case w^e 
are interested in a little island of historical importance only. 

The Chairman. How far from a large town ? 

Mr. Reinhart. Twenty-two miles from Sandusky; 44 miles from 
Toledo. Detroit is 62 miles and Cleveland 65 miles. 

I wish to say further that the reason w^e ask the National Govern- 
ment for this appropriation is that this is commemorating a national 
event, and nothing local. It is commemoratmg the one-hundredth 
anniversary of the battle of Lake Erie and the victory of Commodore 

Perry. 

Mr. Huntington. And we believe it is for a national purpose. 

Mr. Reinhart. And simply because the battle was fought on Ohio 
soil Ohio has taken the initiative. 

Mr. PoiNDEXTER. Do the peoj)le m that vicmity celebrate the anni- 
versary of the battle of Lake Erie ? 

Mr. Reinhart. Oh, yes. • , u • 

Mr. Cassidy. In the city of Cleveland there are exercises held m 
September every year, and it is called ' ' Perry Day." 

Mr. Reinhart. A few years ago a small monument was erected 
by the Hotel Victory in the park, which is about a mile and a lialf 
from this location, and Vice-President Fairbanks spoke there. Men- 
tion was made of the fact that these graves were unmarked, ihey 
have a number of cannon balls, small monuments, put up there by 



14 MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

the citizoiis oi Put m Bay, and the expenses of even that mark of 
respect were defraved from the j)rocee(ls of a dramatic c<)mi)any. 
The cannon halls were erected upon little stones and put over the 
hiirial j)laces of the soldiers. 

Mr. (.'assidy. I will say that there is also in the city of Cleveland a 
m<»nunient erected to Commodore Perry. 

Mr. Steenerson. I would like to ask whether this commission 
have anv jurisdiction in this case. The association is the Perrv's 
Victory Centennial Commission, and Mr. Huntington says it is a mis- 
nomer* to call this an exposition. There does not seem to be any 
ex])osition about it. 

General Kkifer. Oh, yes; there is. 

Mr. Steenersdn. There is in the bill, but not in this pampldet that 
describes it. This is called the "Report of the Perry's Victory Cen- 
tennial Commission to the Governor of Ohio." 

The Chaiuman. But we would have to be governed l)y the provi- 
sions of the bill. Mr. Steenerson. 

Mr. Huntington. We call it an historical, educational, and 
patriotic exposition. 

Mr. Steenerson. The gentleman stated that that name was a 
misnomer. There does not seem to be any ex])osition about it, and 
we have nothing to do with it. as I understand it. The bill should 
be governed bv the constitution and i)y-laws of the association. 

Mr. Reinh.vrt. I think the gentleman means that it is not an 
industrial exposition, but it will be an exposition so far as the fish- 
eries and the life-saving station is concerned. 

Mr. SuAKP. It seems to me, after hearing these splendid addresses 
as to the purcliase of this memorial, that there should not be any 
dilFerence of opinion, and before I get through I want to move the 
adoption of the resolution, and that the remarks of Mr. Huntington 
be ])rint('d and distributed to the Members of Congress. VVhile we 
were all ])resent the other day when we hail this discussion on the 
floor for an a])propriation of, I think, S25,000 for building a memorial 
at Valley Forge, it was claimed at the tune to be more or less of a local 
])iMi)ose", although national at the time in its results. But without 
(U.sparaging the work there, the purpose or the patriotism of those 
men who fought to pre.serve the Union at that time, it seems to me 
not comparable to this project in imi)ortance. We established at 
that time our prestige upon the seas as a naval power; it gave us 
our lirst start. • It .seems to me tiiat if this purpose is thoroughly 
understood by the Mejnbers of Congress, that the appropriation will 
be safeguanh'd, that amendments will be made to this bill, and I 
would suggest here that some provision be made that the contribu- 
tion on the ])art of tlu' (iovernment of S2r)(),()()() l)e the last amount 
to be paid in ujxMi this work after all tiie other api)ro])riations have 
Ix-cii u\mU' by individual state Icgislat lU'es. and that the sum of 
.$.s()(),(M)() or S1,00(),()(M) he what is raised and al)solutely used, if you 
plca.se, in the constriiction of this memorial and other work, and that 
the la.st contribution shall come from the ('iov(>rnment, which would 
be an absolute safeguard. 

It seems to me. too, that th<' piu-poses of this splenchd monument 
luTe and tower that is proposed will of themselves ai)peal strongly to 
the Memhers of Congress as utililMrian in every resoect. I Avas 
impressed by the gentleman's reiiniiks when he sjioke about the life- 



MEMORIAL perry's VICTORY CENTKN N l.\ 1. AM) KXPOSI'IK i.N . 15 

saving feature of the work. In tliis river iiiitl liarhor hill, of which 
conmiittee 1 see there are two or three very strong and capahle 
members present, and in whose work I heartily concur, there was an 
appropriation of something hke !!i;4o,()()(),0()(), 1 believe. All of that 
splenilitl work comes almost directly out of tlu^ result of that splendid 
naval victory of Commodore Perry and his little llect nearly one hun- 
dred years ago. Yet this contribution that is now called for repre- 
sents less than 1 per cent of the entire amount that this Government 
is called uj)on to use in making this approjiriation, and but once in a 
century, while this other approjiriation is made practically eveiy 
jear, or at least every other year. This that we are advocating is of 
permanent good. 

In closing, 1 wish to say that while 1 understand there will be jnore 
or less of an effort made to have home labor and the use of liome 
material in the construction of this work, 1 appreciate the imi)ortance 
of that, and I would like to see that done for sentimental reasons. I 
have been so thoroughly impressed with the durability of granite, its 
superiority in appearance, that I am thro%\ing out at this time, at this 
stage of the proceedings, tliis suggestion: That when tliis committee 
actually gets down to business and undertakes to draw ]>lans and 
specifications, they give careful and earnest consideration to the 
superior merits and claims of granite for that structure, not only because 
it is infuiitely more beautiful, but we know that a monument built of 
granite here will endure practically for all time, to celebrate the 
^4ctory that should be kept in our minils for all time. 

Mr. Reinhart. Along the line of Mr. Nelson's suggestion, after this 
exposition is over, which would be some time in September, then the 
Government will have expended its S2o0,00(), and it would not be 

called upon at all to maintain or keep up an}' of the matters 

Mr. Huntington. Excepting its own quarters. 
Mr. Reinhart. Yes; excepting its own quarters. 
General Keifer. It would maintain the light-house; it would have 
to do that, the same as it maintains other light-houses. 

Mr. Nelson. If the fee is in the Government, will we not be in duty 
bound to keep up the repairs, and so forth ( 

General Keifer. In regard to that suggestion, on reflection 1 think 
it might be inferred that if the fee was in the Government it would 
mean that the Government should maintain it, but is not the Gov- 
ernment to maintain it, anyway? The Weathei- Bureau is expected 
to be there. 

The Chairman. Yes; it seems to me that it would be devotetl 
almost entirely to government purposes. 

General Keifer. Yes; the fisheries, the life-saving station, all of 
those things the Government would have to take care of, anyway, and 
it would insist upon doing it. As to the matter of the elevator and 
its self-sustaining character, there might not be anv great objection to 
the Government taking care of it after the close of the exposition. 

Mr. Bates. I w4sh to say just one word. I was asked In' the 
president of the Pennsylvania board of commissioners to appear 
liere to-day and say that the Pennsylvania commission would be glad 
to cooperate most heartily in this celebration. Mr. Sisson, the chair- 
man of the Pennsylvania commission, is a resident of my own district, 
has been in the State senate for some ten years, and has just been 
chosen auditor-general of the State. I think there is no doubt but 



10 MKMORIAL rEKllV S VKTOKi CE^•TE^.NIAL AND EXPOSITION. 

tliMt tlio Poimsylvania Ic^^ishituro, wlion it meets, will eoopcratc in a 
siii)st!inti:il way to make this a siirnai celebration. 

Tlie sliii)s of l^errv's lleet wi>re t)iiilt in jny district, and the trees 
i^rew upon the soil borderinfj; upon Lake Erie, and the ships sailed out 
from the bay formed by Presfpie Isle peninsula. 

Keference is made in this n^port of th(> commission to the raising 
of the lla^ship Xidfidni. I woidd like to state that about two years 
ago I ])repar<'d a bill, passed it through the Naval Committee and 
tln-ougli the House, ap|)ropriating funds to raise the old boat Niaf/ara, 
w!;i"h lies in tlie bay. Senator Hale, chairman of the Senate Com- 
mittee on Xaval Affairs, did not seem to want it to go through the 
Senate, and it did not j)ass the Senate. That was some two years ago. 
My purpose in addressing the chair was, however, to state that the 
Peimsyhania commission desires to cooperate in every possible way 
in making tiiis a fitting celebration, and I note in one of the preambles 
of Cleneral Keifer's biU that it is to be national in character, so that I 
hope that the title, the fee, of tliis land will be for that reason placed 
in the Tnited States, and that it shall be considered a cooperation 
of these States in a national celebration merely because the victory 
was won at Put in Bay and located at tliat place. 

General Sherwood. Gentlemen, T tliink this question has been 
handled sufliciently already. As has been well said by General Keifer 
and by the secretary and president of the association, this was the 
most signal victory of the war of 1812. It settled the cpiestion 
of the supremacy of the American Xavy on the Great Lakes, and I 
think it was the most signal victory ever fought on fresh water; and 
it was fought by a volunteer officer who was never before under fire, 
and against one of the most exj)erience(l naval officers of the British 
navy — a man who fought with Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. 

Now, the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac, for in- 
stance, did not settle anything. It was not a signal victory. It 
settled the <|uestion as to which was the most effective and the most 
invulnerable engine of ileath. It did not settle anything vital in 
connection with the w^ar. Admiral Farragut's victory at Mobile, 
another brilliant achievement, did not settle any contention of the 
war. But this battle did settle the war practically between tlie United 
States and (heal Britain. The victory of (ieneral Jackson at New 
Orleans was a very remarkable victory and one, under all the circum- 
stances, of the most remarkable ever fought in this coimtry consid- 
ering the forces engaged. But the treaty of peace at Ghent had 
been ratified on the 21th of I)ecend)er, 1814, and CJeneral Jackson's 
l)attle was fought (»n the 8th of .January, 1815; so it was not a signal 
victr)ry. because it was not a battle that settled anything. The great 
(jU(!stion had already been settled. 

Now, we have at Put in Bay, among those islands in Lake Ei'ie 
(emerald gems that stan<l up I'loin the surface of the lake), perhaps 
the mo>-t atliaetive spot in the summei- months on the Amei"ican 
continent. They are very accessible. We have six steamboat lines 
running to them. There is a daily steand)oat line from Cleveland, 
also from Sandusky (20 miles distant), and a daily line from Port 
Clinton; a daily line from Toh>do. om> from Detroit, and T understand 
ihei-e is a line from Leamington, Canada. 'IMiis <'elel)ration, com- 
inenKuating the most signal victory of tli(> war of 1812, will attract 
continental interest, because General Harrison's victory at Fort 



I 



MEMORIAL PEKRY S VICTORY CENTENNIAL AND EXPOSITION. IT 

Meigs in May, 1813, lollowed l)y (loiioial C'rogaii's victory at Fort 
Stephenson (Fremont), and ciilniinating in Perry's victoiy'at Put in 
Bay on the 10th of September, practically settled the war hetween 
the United States and Great lii'itain. In celehrat iiig this ^i<•tory 
we inculcate a virility of patriotism that shoidd be vital and valuable 
to the whole American people. 

Mr. Huntington. I just want to say in conclusion that the mem- 
bers of this committee have a right to know what condition of public 
sentiment the commissioners have discovered in going about in six 
or seven different States. I apprehend that the gentlemen who 
compose this committee have no other desire than to do what the 
people want, and I can say this in all sincerity, that this project 
absolutely has the unanimous support of the peoj^le of the country. 
It has be^n presented to the press countless times in different places 
covering a wide expanse of country. It has received the suj^port of 
the newspapers from the first; it has been indorsed by the National 
Convention of American Fisheries, the highest representative body 
regarding fish culture in the world. Wherever we have been the 
response of the members of the legislatures and the goyern<^rs of 
these States have been immediate and cordial and emphatic, and we 
have become convinced that the people of the country generally 
want it. We therefore hope that the committee will see its way 
clear to give the representatives of the people at least an opportunity 
to vote upon it. 

Mr. Reinhart. I want to refer to a question that has been asked 
here, and to say that the States bordering on the Great Lakes are 
interested in this enterprise, first, because they have a large lake 
frontage, and secondly, because the treaty of Ghent settled all 
questions relating to the northern boundary. But you must recollect 
tliat this is in commemoration of a national event, and Mr. Sharp has; 
referred to the monument being vested in the National Government, 
yet has proposed to put a string upon the appropriation made by the 
National Government, that it should not be expected until the funds, 
of the States had been appropriated. It would seem to me that the' 
States will say that if the National Government shall desire to have 
the right of ownership rest in its name, and that the celebration shall 
have somewhat of the proportions of a national event, and yet that the 
money from the Government can not be secured until it is absolutely 
needed, that they may make objections. If the National Govern- 
ment wishes to have supervision over this memorial, and over the 
land, I believe that your appropriation ought not to have any sti'ing 
tied to it. I think the States will respond, but I think that the 
appropriation of the Government should be given without any string 
tied to it. 

Mr. Anderson. Did I understand you to say, Mr. Huntington, that 
there were a great many soldiers buried tJiere without any marks of 
recognition of any kind ? 

Mr. Huntington. There are 18 officers of the fleet buried there- 
without any marks over their graves at all. Of course most of the- 
men who died with Perry are at the bottom of the lake. 

General Keifer. But individual marks are not tliere at all. They 
merely have some cannon balls piled up to indicate the places. 

Mr. Anderson. If for no other reason, I think we ought to recog- 
nize that fact in the passage of this bill. 

30275—10 2 



lLl2Sl„P^ CONGRESS 



® 0n 895 3" ♦ 



